Autoline Daily

June sales in the U.S. market will be announced tomorrow and almost all the analysts are predicting it will be a decent month . . . at least by today’s standards. Michigan’s new Republican Governor, Rick Snyder, initiated a letter that was sent to regulators in Washington D.C. questioning the proposed 56.2 mile-per-gallon standard. 14 other state leaders followed suit. Around 85,000 hybrid drivers in California will no longer be able to drive alone in carpool lanes. All that and more, plus a look at the new Toyota Prius v.

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Carlos Ghosn, the head of Nissan and Renault, raked in almost $11.5 million dollars last fiscal year, which makes him the highest-paid executive at a Japanese car company. Ford is working to increase capacity at its plant in the United Kingdom that builds four-cylinder EcoBoost engines because demand is so high in Europe. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency issued fuel-pump labels for E-15 – gasoline that’s blended with 15 percent ethanol – which warn consumers not to use E-15 in vehicles older than model year 2001. All that and more, plus guest host Peter De Lorenzo shares his latest compressed auto thoughts in social media speak.

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Nissan released more details on its “Power 88″ business plan including how it intends to average one “all new” vehicle introduction every six weeks for the next six years. Turkey of all places is really starting to emerge as an important market for vehicle assembly. Holden, GM’s Australian subsidiary, could be in deep trouble because of political flip-flopping and budget cuts in the country. All that and more, plus John reviews the 2011 BMW Active Hybrid 750 Li.

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Saab announced it will pay its employees this week after getting an infusion of $18 million from a Chinese company that ordered 582 cars. Nissan just announced a new midterm business plan called “Power 88” to pull itself out of the sales doldrums. The Obama administration is proposing a new CAFE standard of 56.2 miles per gallon. All that and more, plus a look at how Mini is letting drivers connect to their cars via their iPhones.

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Lots of news about electric cars. Think, the electric-car company out of Norway, filed for bankruptcy yesterday. Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn says the LEAF will be profitable by 2014. And GM just unveiled an electric version of the Beat in India. Ford dropped to 23rd place in J.D. Power’s latest Initial Quality Survey, after being the highest-rated non-luxury brand last year. Volkswagen just demonstrated a semi-autonomous vehicle that it calls the Temporary Auto Pilot, or TAP. All that and more, plus a preview of this week’s Autoline Detroit with Derrick Kuzak, the head of all product development at Ford.

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As we’ve been reporting, Saab has some serious financial issues and now it’s unable to pay its workers. The UAW and unions representing Fiat workers came to an agreement to negotiate together on issues concerning them collectively. Hyundai is pulling a Hawtai in China, exaggerating sales of its Sonata YF sedan. All that and more, plus a look at an innovative new safety feature that’s dirt cheap and could be a life saver.

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Ford says it’s tweaking the software behind its SYNC and MyFord Touch systems because of customer complaints about the technologies. The Environmental Protection Agency is proposing another reduction in the use of cellulosic ethanol, the third-straight year it’s slashed requirements. Over the last year, Detroit automakers have boosted sales in California while their Japanese rivals have seen their market share drop in the state. All that and more, plus, we find out the draft order in next week’s automotive draft on Autoline After Hours.

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China wants to be in a position to dominate the global market for electric cars and the government is offering subsidies of $7,700 for plug-in hybrids and over $9,000 for EVs. Chrysler has been at the bottom of Consumer Reports’ reliability and road-test scores for years, but the magazine just tested eight of its 2011 models and says its cars are improving. MINI just released photos and information on its latest model, a two-door, two-seat coupe. All that and more, plus John responds to questions and comments in the “You Said It!” segment.

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Good News! Ward’s is predicting June Sales will increase over May’s Daily Sales Rate. At the same time, used-car prices, which rose sharply in May, have been returning to earth this month. Ford says this is their “last chance” to revive Lincoln and the company is investing $1 billion toward rolling out new products for the luxury brand. All that and more, plus John’s segment on the versatile, venerable and value-minded Nissan Versa.

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Last week Mazda denied it would build a plant in Mexico, today the company announced it will build a factory in Mexico. And with Mazda dropping out of the Flat Rock plant in Michigan and moving to Mexico, Ford may want to move the Mustang which is also made in Flat Rock. Just a few days after blocking a bill that would drop subsidies for ethanol, the U.S. Senate turned right around and approved a bill that would end them. All that and more, plus a preview of this week’s Autoline Detroit with special guest Bob Lutz.